Fiona Richardson
Encyclopedia
Fiona Richardson Australian Labor Party
politician, is the current member for the electorate of Northcote
.
, Tanzania
and was educated at the University of Melbourne
, where she graduated in 1989 majoring in Politics
and Psychology
. She was then a researcher of occular trauma at the Royal Melbourne Eye & Ear Hospital.
Richardson is married to former ALP
state secretary Stephen Newnham and they have two children.
in 1991, and has been an adviser to numerous State and Federal Members of Parliament. She was the Secretary of the Right-wing Labor Unity faction from 2000 to 2007. It was alleged in 2006 that Richardson offered a cash inducement and a politically appointed job to Hume City Councillor Mohamad Abbouche in exchange for him defecting from the Left and supporting Right-wing preselection challenges against sitting MPs. Richardson declined to comment and the allegation was rejected by the Councillor.
Richardson was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
in November 2006 representing the electorate of Northcote
,. She replaced the retiring Arts Minister Mary Delahunty
. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary
for Education and served in that position until August 2007, when she became a Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance. Following Labor's loss at the 2010 state election, Richardson became opposition spokesperson for Public Transport.
Richardson was seen as a key player in protecting husband Stephen Newnham as state secretary during a debilitating struggle within the Right faction over control of ALP head office during 2008 and 2009. Newnham eventually left the role in September 2009 after losing the support of the Premier John Brumby
.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
politician, is the current member for the electorate of Northcote
Electoral district of Northcote
The Electoral district of Northcote is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It currently covers the suburbs of Alphington, Fairfield, Northcote, Thornbury, and part of Preston. It lies on the northern bank of the Yarra River between the Merri and Darebin creeks.The seat...
.
Personal life
Richardson was born in Dar es SalaamDar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and was educated at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where she graduated in 1989 majoring in Politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. She was then a researcher of occular trauma at the Royal Melbourne Eye & Ear Hospital.
Richardson is married to former ALP
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
state secretary Stephen Newnham and they have two children.
Political career
Richardson joined the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
in 1991, and has been an adviser to numerous State and Federal Members of Parliament. She was the Secretary of the Right-wing Labor Unity faction from 2000 to 2007. It was alleged in 2006 that Richardson offered a cash inducement and a politically appointed job to Hume City Councillor Mohamad Abbouche in exchange for him defecting from the Left and supporting Right-wing preselection challenges against sitting MPs. Richardson declined to comment and the allegation was rejected by the Councillor.
Richardson was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
in November 2006 representing the electorate of Northcote
Electoral district of Northcote
The Electoral district of Northcote is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It currently covers the suburbs of Alphington, Fairfield, Northcote, Thornbury, and part of Preston. It lies on the northern bank of the Yarra River between the Merri and Darebin creeks.The seat...
,. She replaced the retiring Arts Minister Mary Delahunty
Mary Delahunty
Mary Delahunty is an Australian journalist and retired politician with the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:Delahunty was born in Victoria, Australia and educated at Loreto College, in Victoria. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Latrobe University.-Media career:Delahunty...
. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
for Education and served in that position until August 2007, when she became a Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance. Following Labor's loss at the 2010 state election, Richardson became opposition spokesperson for Public Transport.
Richardson was seen as a key player in protecting husband Stephen Newnham as state secretary during a debilitating struggle within the Right faction over control of ALP head office during 2008 and 2009. Newnham eventually left the role in September 2009 after losing the support of the Premier John Brumby
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
.